Mobility buy back

cyclonebri1

Does anyone know how the price of a car is determined at the end of it's 3 year lease, if the user asks to buy it back outright.

I know they go straight to auction normally.

Would it simply by the auction book rate or would the car be inspected and the price adjusted in accordance with condition?

I just have it in mind that the better you look after the car, the more you would have to pay for it.

Not that I have any issue with that, but it could change the rate you use it at, mileage wise, if that is the case.

motorguy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Does anyone know how the price of a car is determined at the end of it's 3 year lease, if the user asks to buy it back outright.

I know they go straight to auction normally.

Would it simply by the auction book rate or would the car be inspected and the price adjusted in accordance with condition?

I just have it in mind that the better you look after the car, the more you would have to pay for it.

Not that I have any issue with that, but it could change the rate you use it at, mileage wise, if that is the case.

No, they dont go straight to auction. They're valued by an assessor and offered at a 'buy it now' price via their own website to the motor trade. The best of them that are priced correctly will be sold this way. The rougher (most) of them or those that were priced too expensive will end up dispersed to the auction houses across the UK and sold to the highest bidder, usually at large trade auctions.

In terms of assessing a price, from memory its based on CAP Guide, but they'll follow the seasonal adjustments in the guide so they'll see a late year registered car as being worth quite a lot more than an early year one. Also, they adjust upwards for low miles cars, meaning prices can sometimes get a bit out of kilter with reality. There are certain times of the year therefore that their cars can be too expensive for the trade - usually late in the year when dealers are buying up stock for the new year OR cars that the trade would want considerably behind trade book price.

cyclonebri1

motorguy wrote: »

No, they dont go straight to auction. They're valued by an assessor and offered at a 'buy it now' price via their own website to the motor trade. The best of them that are priced correctly will be sold this way. The rougher (most) of them or those that were priced too expensive will end up dispersed to the auction houses across the UK and sold to the highest bidder, usually at large trade auctions.

In terms of assessing a price, from memory its based on CAP Guide, but they'll follow the seasonal adjustments in the guide so they'll see a late year registered car as being worth quite a lot more than an early year one. Also, they adjust upwards for low miles cars, meaning prices can sometimes get a bit out of kilter with reality. There are certain times of the year therefore that their cars can be too expensive for the trade - usually late in the year when dealers are buying up stock for the new year OR cars that the trade would want considerably behind trade book price.

Ok, thanks, all understood.

So does that mean they would offer the car to the ex "leasee" at the same price that is offered to the trade?

fivetide

We were told that the price to keep them isn't always that cheap. Think in terms of the balloon payment on things like 'just add fuel'

Chap at Ford told us he could sell a two year old Focus, same spec for less than motability would offer on your three year old one. Disagree with the majority being rough but that's a different story.

motorguy

fivetide wrote: »

Disagree with the majority being rough but that's a different story.

Have you a motability trade account or been to trade auctions to see them going through?

motorguy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok, thanks, all understood.

So does that mean they would offer the car to the ex "leasee" at the same price that is offered to the trade?

Dont know. They may well do. Havent any experience in selling back to the driver scenarios. I guess they should do.

But as has been said, it may not be any cheaper than buying from a dealer anyway - other than you *know* the car.

fivetide

motorguy wrote: »

Have you a motability trade account or been to trade auctions to see them going through?

We've been through this before. The grades going through auction were the same, if not better than the non-motability cars (on average).

As always, the simple advice to anyone looking to buy would be not to assume it is in good nick because it is ex-motability as chances are, bar servicing, it's not been looked after any better (or worse) than anything else and there will be dogs out there.

Sounds like the OP wants to buy their own car though. Our experience is you can get a newer car at a lower price quite randomly. Might have changed though, it was a few (4) years ago.

cyclonebri1

fivetide wrote: »

We've been through this before. The grades going through auction were the same, if not better than the non-motability cars (on average).

As always, the simple advice to anyone looking to buy would be not to assume it is in good nick because it is ex-motability as chances are, bar servicing, it's not been looked after any better (or worse) than anything else and there will be dogs out there.

Sounds like the OP wants to buy their own car though. Our experience is you can get a newer car at a lower price quite randomly. Might have changed though, it was a few (4) years ago.

A good few years ago I did the buy/sell thing with auction bought cars, never found the mobility sales to be any worse than general part ex sales to be honest

My enquiry is not about a car I have, it's a decision I am about to take as to whether buy by next car or to go the mobility route.
Decision will be taken today.

I was trying to get a feel for the cost of keeping the car say 10 years by either method.
The appeal of not forking out the whole capital lump is just that, appealing.

Then again, I suppose continuing with a new lease car is also attractive:D

pstuart

Let us know which route that you decide on (and which vehicle if want to keep it for 10 years) - I imagine that quite a few of us are in the same boat as you!

cyclonebri1

pstuart wrote: »

Let us know which route that you decide on (and which vehicle if want to keep it for 10 years) - I imagine that quite a few of us are in the same boat as you!

The car in question in a Nissan Qashqai 360, fits the bill for my requirements and the 360degree camera is what clinches it.

On mobility you need a £1450 advance for the 360 model in 1.6 diesel.

Now that comes pretty well equiped with part leather and a whole load of other goodies. But here is the real deal, the Tekna 360 is the top of the range model, it's well over £2000 extra in price.

For that you get a 7 speaker Bose sound system, full leather heated seats, xenon headlights better wheels, intelligent key, silver roof rails, headlamp washers etc.

The best bit is this only costs an extra £200 in advance payment, with of course the same monthly lease rates, bargain.

The other advantage I found with the mobility route was that Renault want well over £500 for metallic paint as an extra on any car, leaving only solid Red or White as the list price options.

But by going Motability, you get the choice of any metallic colour.

Anyway, decision made, paperwork being done later today.

pstuart

Excellent choice, we are looking at the Tiguan at the moment - must have a run out in the Nissan.